2017 Schedule 01
A Conference to Promote Science & Critical Thinking
June 29-July 2, 2017
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City
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Speakers

NECSS 2017 Confirmed Speakers

Mike Massimino

Former NASA Astronaut (Keynote Speaker)

Leighann Lord

Emcee

James Randi

Magician & Skeptic

Gavin Schmidt

NASA Climatologist

Britt Marie Hermes

Former Naturopath

Skye Cleary

Philosopher

Summer Ash

Astrophysicist

Richard Saunders

The Skeptic Zone podcast

Julia Galef

Rationally Speaking podcast

Cara Santa Maria

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Massimo Pigliucci

Philosopher

Nina Burleigh

Journalist, Newseek

Robert Kurzban

Evolutionary psychologist

Steve Novella

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Helaine Olen

Journalist, Slate

Jay Novella

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Jennifer Lopez

NASA Datanaut Corps

George Hrab

Musican

Brian Wecht

Comedian, Musician & Physicist

John Rennie

AccessScience

David Gorski

Society for Science-Based Medicine

Harriet Hall

Society for Science-Based Medicine

Clay Jones

Society for Science-Based Medicine

Brooke Binkowski

Managing Editor, Snopes

Robyn Stein DeLuca

Psychologist

Spiro Condos

NYC Skeptics

Yelena Bernadskaya

NYC Skeptics

Steve Lundquist

Skeptical activist

Evan Bernstein

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Bob Novella

The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe

Niki Athanasiadou

Research Scientist

About NECSS

NECSS is an annual conference designed to promote science and critical thinking. Through workshops, panel discussions, presentations, performances and social gatherings, attendees are educated and entertained by leading scientists, artists, and other intellectuals. NECSS takes place over four days in New York City and attracts hundreds of attendees from all over the world and all walks of life.

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About NECSS

NECSS, (pronounced “Nexus”), the Northeast Conference on Science and Skepticism, is an annual conference designed to promote science and critical thinking. Through workshops, panel discussions, presentations, performances and social gatherings, attendees are educated and entertained by leading scientists, artists, and other intellectuals. NECSS takes place over four days in New York City and attracts hundreds of attendees from all over the world and all walks of life.

Past presenters include Bill Nye, Lawrence Krauss, Leonoard Mlodinow, Richard Wiseman, James Randi, Susan Jacoby, Paul Offit, Phil Plait, Simon Singh, Michael Shermer, Kevin Folta, Yvette D'Entremont (“The SciBabe”), George Hrab, Eugenie C. Scott, Michael Mann, Cady Coleman, Joe Nickell, Massimo Pigliucci, Heather Berlin, Seth Shostak, Carl Zimmer, and many more.

Founded in 2009, NECSS is a nonprofit conference run by a staff of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers. Conference proceedings are also made available via the NECSS YouTube channel, and our affiliated podcasts; The Skeptics Guide to the Universe and Rationally Speaking.

Conference Details

Important information about NECSS 2017

Speakers

30+ speakers are expected for NECSS 2017!

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Venue

NECSS takes place at FIT in New York City.

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Hotel

Discounted rooms are available until May 29th - book now!

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Schedule

Lectures, panels, socials, performances, and workshops.

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Schedule

All times are approximate. Schedule subject to change.

  • 10:00am 11:15am
    Workshop 1A /Niki Athanasiadou / Thinking Like a (Data) Scientist / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 10:00am 11:15am
    Workshop 1B /Steve Lundquist / If You Look Outside the Right Side of the Aircraft: Still Not a UFO / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 11:30am 12:45pm
    Workshop 2A /Steve Novella / How to Survive in an Alternative Fact, Fake News World / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 11:30am 12:45pm
    Workshop 2B /Brian Wecht/Jay Novella / The Art of Conversation / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 12:45pm 2:15pm
    Lunch (on your own)
  • 2:15pm 3:30pm
    Workshop 3A /Spyrodon Condos/Yelena Bernadskaya / How to Argue with Yourself / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 2:15pm 3:30pm
    Workshop 3B /Steve Novella / How to Survive in an Alternative Fact, Fake News World / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 3:45pm 5:00pm
    Workshop 4A /Brian Wecht/Jay Novella/Steve Novella / The Best Moments in Sci-Fi Movie History / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 3:45pm 5:00pm
    Workshop 4B /Robyn Stein DeLuca / Men Make War and Women Take Care? A Skeptical Look at Who Does the Fighting and Who Does the Helping / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 7:00pm 8:30pm
    SGU Private Show /Steve Novella, Jay Novella, Cara Santa Maria, Evan Bernstein, Bob Novella, & George Hrab / FIT Feldman Center 9th Floor
  • 09:30am 09:50am
    Opening /Leighann Lord / Haft Auditorium
  • 09:50am 10:30am
    David Gorski /Whither the Antivaccine Movement in the Age of Trump / Haft Auditorium
  • 10:40am 11:20am
    Steve Novella /Neuroscience: Hype & Hope / Haft Auditorium
  • 11:40am 12:20pm
    Brit Marie Hermes /The Naturopaths are Coming! The Naturopaths are Coming! / Haft Auditorium
  • 12:25pm 01:55pm
    Lunch (on your own)
  • 02:00pm 02:40pm
    Harriet Hall /Denialism in Medicine: Statin Denialists and Others / Haft Auditorium
  • 02:50pm 03:30pm
    Clay Jones /Folklore in Modern Pediatric Medicine / Haft Auditorium
  • 03:45pm 04:50pm
    Panel / Is Science-Based Medicine Successful? /David Gorski, Britt Marie Hermes, Clay Jones, Harriet Hall, & Steve Novella / Haft Auditorium
  • 04:55pm 06:00pm
    Panel / Science-Based Medicine Audience Q&A /David Gorski, Britt Marie Hermes, Clay Jones, Harriet Hall, & Steve Novella / Haft Auditorium
  • 08:00pm 10:00pm
    An Evening with James Randi /Magic, Illusion, and the Paranormal / Haft Auditorium
  • 09:30am 09:40am
    Opening /Leighann Lord / Haft Auditorium
  • 09:45am 10:25am
    Massimo Pigliucci /Skepticism and Epistemic Virtue / Haft Auditorium
  • 10:35am 11:15am
    Gavin Schmidt /Simulating Climate; Stimulating Thought / Haft Auditorium
  • 11:35am 12:15pm
    Summer Ash /The Invisible Universe: Seeing What Our Eyes Can’t / Haft Auditorium
  • 12:20pm 01:50pm
    Lunch (on your own)
  • 01:55pm 03:25pm
    The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe Live /Steve Novella, Jay Novella, Bob Novella, Evan Bernstein, Cara Santa Maria, + Guest / Haft Auditorium
  • 03:35pm 04:40pm
    Panel / When Science & Ideology Collide /Jennifer Lopez, Heather Berlin, & David Gorski / Haft Auditorium
  • 05:00pm 06:00pm
    Mike Massimino /Lessons from Space (keynote) / Haft Auditorium
  • 06:00pm 06:30pm
    Mike Massimino /Lessons from Space (book signing) / Haft Auditorium
  • 8:00pm 11:00pm
    NECSS Social /All NECSS Attendees (please register in advance) / Dewey's Pub
  • 09:30am 09:40am
    Opening /Leighann Lord / Haft Auditorium
  • 09:40am 10:45am
    Panel / The Conceptual Penis Hoax: Gotcha! Journalism or Useful Exercise? /Brian Wecht, Massimo Pigliucci, Richard Saunders, Skye Cleary / Haft Auditorium
  • 10:50am 11:35am
    Rationally Speaking Live /Julia Galef & Robert Kurzban / Haft Auditorium
  • 11:50am 12:30pm
    Jay Novella /A Guide to Skeptical Parenting / Haft Auditorium
  • 12:35pm 01:55pm
    Lunch (on your own)
  • 02:00pm 03:05pm
    Panel / Journalism in the Age of Alternative Facts and Fake News /Nina Burleigh, Brooke Binkowski, Helaine Olen, John Rennie / Haft Auditorium
  • 03:15pm 04:20pm
    Panel / Skeptic’s Roundtable: What’s Wrong with the World and How to Fix It /James Randi, George Hrab, Cara Santa Maria, & Steve Novella / Haft Auditorium
  • 04:30pm 05:10pm
    George Hrab /Secret Skeptics: Critical Thinkers Hidden in Popular Culture / Haft Auditorium
  • 05:10pm 05:30pm
    Closing /Haft Auditorium

Registration

Registration is available for single-day and 3-day passes. Workshops and ancillary events are add-on items to main conference registration. Members of NECSS sponsor organizations and students are eligible for discounted registration.

$245
General Admission - 3 Day Pass
General Admission to all three days of the main conference programming
  • Main Conference - All 3 Days
  • Can register for Thursday workshops
  • Can register for Thursday SGU Private Show
  • Discount to Friday's ``An Evening With James Randi``
  • Includes Saturday NECSS Social
  • Saturday lunch for two with speakers
  • Free Swag
REGISTER NOW>
$95
Student Admission - 3 Day Pass
Student Admission to all three days of the main conference programming
  • Main Conference - All 3 Days
  • Can register for Thursday workshops
  • Can register for Thursday SGU Private Show
  • Discount to Friday's ``An Evening With James Randi``
  • Includes Saturday NECSS Social
  • Saturday lunch for two with speakers
  • Free swag
REGISTER NOW>
$950
Premium Pass- 3 Day Pass + More
All NECSS events* + backstage lunch for two with speakers
  • Main Conference - All 3 Days
  • Includes Thursday workshops
  • Includes Friday's ``An Evening With James Randi``
  • Includes Saturday NECSS Social
  • Sunday lunch for two with speakers
  • Special signed items and free ``swag``
  • *Thursday SGU Private Show sold out
  • *Saturday lunch sold out
PASS DETAILS>
$120
General Admission - 1 Day Pass
General Admission to a single day of the main conference programming
  • Main Conference - Single Day
  • Can register for Thursday workshops
  • Can register for Thursday SGU Private Show
  • Discount to Friday's ``An Evening With James Randi``
  • Includes Saturday NECSS Social
  • Saturday lunch for two with speakers
  • Free Swag
REGISTER NOW>
$55
Student Admission - 1 Day Pass
Student Admission to a single day of the main conference programming
  • Main Conference - Single Day
  • Can register for Thursday workshops
  • Can register for Thursday SGU Private Show
  • Discount to Friday's ``An Evening With James Randi``
  • Includes Saturday NECSS Social
  • Saturday lunch for two with speakers
  • Free Swag
REGISTER NOW>
$35
Ticket - An Evening With James Randi
Ticket to Friday evening show only (no conference attendance)
  • Ticket to Friday evening show
  • Thursday workshops
  • Thursday SGU Private Show
  • Saturday NECSS Social
  • Saturday lunch for two with speakers
  • Free Swag
PURCHASE TICKET>
An Evening with James Randi
Lecture + Audience Q&A
Friday June 30 @ 8:00PM
Haft Auditorium, NYC
Discounted admission for NECSS 2017 attendees
Register Now